Mop having a detachable head



Nov. 14, 1961 c. E. LAY

MOP HAVING A DETACHABLE HEAD Filed Feb. 2, 1960 INVEN TOR. CARLT? E. LAY

FIG. I

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q 3,008,166 MOP HAVING A DETACHABLE HEAD Carlton E. Lay, 617 Robindale Ave., Akron 12, Ohio Filed Feb. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 6,262 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-229) The present invention relates to an improved implement for brushing, scrubbing and general cleaning. More particularly, the invention relates to a floor mop having a detachable handle.

The general object of thepresent invention is to provide a low cost, convenient and reliable construction for a floor mop. Specifically, it is an object to provide a floor mop having a construction'such that after repeated use and wearing of the mop strands, the mop can be readily removed and thrown away. Further, it is an object to provide a mop construction so adapted that several mops, for example, a wet mop for scrubbing and a clean or rinse mop can be used interchangeably with the same handle. Further objects of the invention as well as the advantages thereof will be apparent in view of the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, broken away at the left corner to show details, of a mop head and handle;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken substantially as indicated on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the mop head with strands extended in opposite directions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially as indicated on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a small scale perspective view showing detachment of the mop handle.

A mop according to the invention includes a head portion indicated generally by the numeral and a handle 11. The mop head 10 and handle 11 are selectively joined by a fast-make coupling indicated generally by the numeral 12 and having interconnecting elements. The coupling 12 preferably comprises a socket element 14 permanently attached to the mop head 10 and a preferably tubular connective insert element 15 permanently attached to handle 11 as by rivets 17 and 18. The annular recess 19 on the interior of socket 14 is adapted to be engaged as by wrinkle detents 20 operatively mounted within insert 15 to selectively interconnect a head 10 to a handle 11. The preferably annular corrugation 21 on insert 15 acts as a stop to prevent the insert 15 from being forced too far into socket 14, both when the handle 11 is being connected to a head 10 or during the actual use of the mop.

Attached perpendicularly to the base of socket 14 and extending in opposite directions is a preferably metallic shoe plate 22 which serves as a support, spacer and frame for the mopping portion 23 of head 10. The mopping portion 23 is preferably comprised of two warps, indicated at 24 and 25, of individual strands. The warps are stacked with the individual strands in parallel disposition. The shoe plate 22 is interposed between the warps 24 and 25 transversely of the strands and is preferably placed approximately medially the longitudinal dimension of the stacked warps. The tubular body of socket 14, therefore, passes through the warp 24, and, as best shown in FIG. 3, the strands are spread apart at that point by the insertion of the socket 14 through warp 24.

A binder cloth 27 encompasses the assembly of stacked warps 24 and 25 and interposed shoe 22 at this medial portion. A circular opening 28 permits the tubular socket 12 to protrude therethrough and permits the assembled parts to be fastened or firmly pressed together and united, as by stitchings 29 and 30. Stitching is in close 3,008,166 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 proximity to the outline of shoe 22 and therebyprevents rotation thereof in relation to the strands 26 of the warps 24 and 25. Additional durability and strength is added to the mop by stitching 30 along the periphery of binder cloth 27.

A mop of the configuration herein disclosed provides many advantages. Not only is the thus formed head 10 disposable and easily attachable and detachable to the handle 11, but the mop has an advantageous stability. That is, the use of the shoe 22 oifers a rigid frame transversely to the axis of the handle thereby assuring a permanent eifective width for the mop itself.

Similarly, the dimension of the shoe 22 transverse the longitudinal dimension thereof provides a spacer effect. As is accentuated in FIG. 2 and represented more to scale in FIG. 5, the individual strands of the warps 24 and 25 on opposite sides of shoe 22 are not permitted to bunch together immediately in the area adjacent the shoe, but are separated by a meniscus gap 31.

The width of meniscus gap 31 is of such a dimension that it increases the liquid holding capacity of the mopping portion 23, over the usual cumulative holding or absorbent capacity of the individual strands, by allowing a meniscus to form which forms between the parallel strands on either side of the shoe.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable mop head having a coupling element for selective interconnection with a handle, comprising, two warps of mopping strands, said warps stacked so that said strands are parallel, a shoe on the base of said coupling coupling element, said shoe being of greater longitudinal dimension than of transverse dimension, said shoe interposed between said warps transversely of said strands and medially the longitudinal dimension thereof, the transverse dimension of said shoe so constructed and arranged as to provide a meniscus gap between the strands transversely of said shoe, a binder cloth encompassing said warps also medially the longitudinal dimension thereof, a hole in said binder cloth, said coupling element protruding through the hole in said binder cloth, and fastening means through said binder cloth and said warps on each side of said shoe.

2. A detachable mop head having a coupling element for selective interconnection with a handle, comprising, two warps of mopping strands, said warps stacked so that said strands are parallel, a shoe on the base of said coupling element, said shoe being of greater longitudinal dimension than of transverse dimension, said shoe interposed between said warps transversely of said strands and medially the longitudinal dimension thereof, the transverse dimension of said shoe so constructed and arranged as to provide a meniscus gap between the strands transversely of said shoe, a binder cloth encompassing said warps also medially the longitudinal dimension thereof, a hole in said binder cloth, said coupling element protruding through the hole in said binder cloth, and stitching through said binder cloth hand warps on each side of said shoe adapted to secure the position of said shoe, warps and binder cloth.

3. A mop having a handle and a detachable mop head comprising, a handle mounting socket, two warps of mopping strands, said warps stacked so that said strands are parallel, a shoe on the base of said socket, said shoe being of greater longitudinal dimension than of transverse dimension, said shoe interposed between said warps with the longitudinal dimension transversely of said strands and medially the longitudinal dimension thereof,

the transverse dimension of said shoe being so confastening means through said binder cloth and said warps on each side of said shoe, a recess on the interior of said socket, an insert attached to said handle, and a detent in said insert adapted to interact with therecess in said socket as'afast-make coupling. g

'4. A mop having a handle and a detachable mop head comprising, a handle mounting socket, two warps of mopping strands, said warps stacked so that saidstran'ds are parallel, a shoe on the base of said socket, said shoe being of greater longitudinal dimension that of transverse dimension, said shoe interposed between said warps with the longitudinal dimension transversely of said strands and medially the longitudinal dimension thereof, the transverse dimension of said shoe being" so constructed and arranged as to provide a meniscus gap between the strands transversely of said shoe, a binder cloth encompassing said warps also medially the longitudinal dimension threeea hole in said Binder cloth, said socket protruding through the hole in said binder cloth,

stitching through said bindercloth and warps on each side of said shoe adapted to secure the position of said shoe, warps and binder cloth, a recess on the interior of said socket, an insert attached to said handle, and a detent in said insert adapted to interact with the recess in said socket as a fast-make coupling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,701 Ransom Mar. 5, 1912 1,271,586 Knapp July 9, 1918 1,378,499 Toplitz May 17, 1921 1,585,306 McPherson May 18, 1926 1,720,344 Palmer July 9, 1929 Lorang V May 19, 1931 UNITED STA TE SFATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE. OF CORRECTION Patent No.1" 3,008, 166 November- 14,, 1961 Carlton" E. Lay

It is hereby certified that error appears in -the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as "corrected below.

Column 1, line 72, after "Stitching" insert 29 column 2, l1ne 24 strike out "which forms"; line 31 strike out "coupling", first occurrence; same column 2, line 58 for "hand" read and column 3, line 11, for "that" read than Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents 

